Aviation in Washington, D.C.

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Aviation in Washington, D.C.
Aviation in the United States
Marine One Whitehouse.jpg
Marine One taking off from the South Lawn at the White House
Airports
Commercial – primary0
Commercial – non-primary0
General aviation0
Other public-use airports0
Military and other airports2
First flight
June 17, 1861

The United States capital, Washington, D.C., has been the site of several events in the nation's history of aviation, beginning from the time of the American Civil War, often for the purpose of promoting the adoption of new aeronautical technologies by the government. It has also been home to several governmental and civilian aircraft manufacturers and aviation organizations, and several aerospace contractors.

Contents

Events

Thaddeus S. C. Lowe's gas generators in 1861 Professor Thaddeus Lowe's Balloon Gas Generators. The U.S. Capitol in background, Washington, DC, circa 1861., 1899 - 19 - NARA - 512776 RETOUCHED.jpg
Thaddeus S. C. Lowe's gas generators in 1861

The first aeronautical event was the tethered demonstration flight of a hot air balloon, the Enterprise, by Thaddeus S. C. Lowe to Abraham Lincoln. The flight included the demonstration of a balloon-to-ground telegraph, resulting in Lowe being appointed to the newly created position of Chief Aeronaut. [1]

Timeline of events

Washington, D.C., as a backdrop to the USS Akron in 1931 or 1932. USSAkronOverWashingtonDC.jpg
Washington, D.C., as a backdrop to the USS Akron in 1931 or 1932.

Aircraft manufacturers

Aerospace

Most large Defense Contractors choose to have branch offices in Washington, D.C., for access to policy and budgetary decision makers.

Airports

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Crystal City, Virginia with Washington, D.C. visible in the background DCA and Washington VA1.jpg
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Crystal City, Virginia with Washington, D.C. visible in the background

Washington, D.C., does not have any public airports within its boundaries. The city is serviced by Washington Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Virginia; Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Crystal City, Virginia; and Baltimore/Washington International Airport in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Dulles is the primary international airport for the Washington metropolitan region while Reagan National is the primary domestic airport.

Washington, D.C., has 13 listed heliports.

Organizations

Government and military

Government

Aviation chart showing restricted airspace in the Washington, D.C., area. Baltimore-Washington TAC 84.png
Aviation chart showing restricted airspace in the Washington, D.C., area.

As the capital of the United States of America, Washington, D.C., is the headquarters for many agencies that oversee aviation, influence aviation policy, and use aviation resources.

Government flight operations

Aviation related government agencies headquartered in Washington, D.C.

Military

Last flight out of Bolling Airfield in 1962. Last flight out of Bolling Air Force Base.jpg
Last flight out of Bolling Airfield in 1962.

College Park Airfield, College Park, MD. Wright Brothers experimental aeroplane development.

Museums

College Park Aviation Museum, College Park, mD.

Film and media

Washington, D.C., is a popular backdrop for aircraft photography.

See also

Transportation in Washington, D.C.

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joint Base Anacostia–Bolling</span> US military installation in Washington, DC

Joint Base Anacostia–Bolling (JBAB) is a 905-acre (366 ha) military installation, located in Southwest Washington, D.C., established on 1 October 2010 in accordance with congressional legislation implementing the recommendations of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission. The legislation ordered the consolidation of Naval Support Facility Anacostia and Bolling Air Force Base (BAFB), which were adjoining but separate military installations into a single joint base, one of twelve formed in the country as a result of the law. The base hosts the Defense Intelligence Agency Headquarters amongst its other responsibilities. The only aeronautical facility at the base is a 100-by-100-foot helipad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HMX-1</span> Military unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hudson Valley Regional Airport</span> Airport

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olympia Regional Airport</span> Airport in Tumwater, Washington

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">College Park Airport</span> Airport in College Park, Maryland

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aurora State Airport</span> Airport in near Aurora, Oregon

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naval Support Facility Anacostia</span> United States Navy base in Washington, DC, United States

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aviation in Maryland</span>

Maryland's first aeronautical event was the flight of 13-year-old Edward Warren from Baltimore in Peter Carne's tethered hot air balloon in 1784.

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